IMN slams Nigerian govt over Sheikh Zakzaky prolonged detention

SHAFAQNA – Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, have again riled at the Federal Government over the continued detainment of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat Ibrahim.

El-Zakzaky together with his spouse has been kept in custody for more than 16 months over a clash between the officers of the Nigerian Army and members of Islamic Movement, which occurred in December 2015. The conflict led to the killings of several members of IMN including children of the spiritual leader.

Also, the group worshipping centre in Zaria, Hussainiyya Baqiyatullah, as well as property of the IMN members were demolished during the confrontation.

Last year, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order for the immediate release of the couple along with compensation, provision of a residence as well as a police protection, but the government has ignored the court order.

The government also turned deaf ears to the call by Amnesty International for the release of the cleric.

In a statement signed by the group’s media secretary, Abdulmumin Giwa, and sent to SaharaReporters, the group has called for the immediate release of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife from illegal detention. The statement noted that El-Zakzaky who lost an eye during the attack against his family might lose the second eye if it is not urgently treated.

“We call on all Nigerians and lovers of humanity to rise against oppression and misuse of power and lend a voice to justice and fairness by condemning such acts of unprovoked brutality on innocent unarmed civilians that include hundreds of women and children perpetrated by the Nigerian government in abuse of all democratic tenets and in violation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the statement reads.